Sunday, 2 April 2017

Meningitis death toll reaches 328

The number of dead in the ongoing epidemic of cerebrospinal meningitis reached 328 by Friday, up from more than 200, the federal health ministry has announced.

So far, 2,524 people have been affected, and a total 131 samples have been confirmed through laboratory tests.

Majority of the tests showed infection by Neisseria Meningitides type C, a serotype that’s reached epidemic proportions for the first time.

“All previous epidemics were caused by Neisseria Meningitides type ‘A’ but this year we are recording Neisseria Meningitides type C in epidemic proportion for the first time,” the ministry said in a public advisory.

“Although the cumulative number of people and locations affected may continue to increase, the actual rate of increase has begun to decline in some states indicating that the end of the epidemic is in sight,” it added.

Ninety local government areas spanning 16 states are now affected since the outbreak started last November in Zamfara.